Fleming, Foster and Donegan shine brightest at Carton House
Emma Fleming. Picture; Tristan Jones/LET
Amateurs Emma Fleming and Aine Donegan and rookie Anna Foster stole Leona Maguire’s thunder in the KPMG Women’s Irish Open at Carton House.
Elm Park star Fleming (20) carded a four-under 69 to share xth place and head the home challenge as Donegan and Foster shot 71s as Maguire struggled to make putts and signed for a one-under 72.
UCD student Foster lies just two shots behind Switzerland’s Chiara Tamburlini and Spain’s Blanca Fernandez.
They shot six-under 67s to lead by a shot from England’s Hannah Screen and Mimi Rhodes, Swedish Solheim Cup star Madelene Sagstrom and her compatriot Lisa Pettersson, Alexandra Swayne from the US Virgin Islands and world amateur number one Lottie Woad.
Fleming won the Victorian Amateur Championship in Australia last month and took that form back home as she made five birdies in an impressive opening round.
“I missed the cut last year and made the cut the year before, so hopefully I can do better this time,” said Fleming, who is unsure about a professional career.
“I’m studying economics and finance, I am trying to move forwards with my academics and then maybe, you never know.
“My family is very academically orientated, we have always valued academics to have a strong Plan B if you were going to turn pro or whatever. I am in my third year now, so I’ve got two more years to decide. We will see.”
Foster got to five-under after ten holes to threaten the lead and while she had to settle for a 71 that left her tied for xth with Lahinch amateur Donegan, she was pleased to back up Sunday’s career-best fourth place finish in the German Masters.
“I'm happy to have made six birdies in the end,” Foster said. “I got off to a really nice start, the hole was looking big… Overall, I'm happy with how I played. Obviously, you’re going to make mistakes. But there's a lot of golf left to be played.”
Donegan (23) outscored Maguire and European Solheim Cup skipper Anna Nordqvist, making three birdies in her first four holes.
"I loved it,” said the Ennis native, who hopes to turn professional later this year. "I love playing in front of a crowd, it's way more fun and you get more adrenaline from that but it was great.”
As for Maguire, only the putter let her down on a day when title favourite Charley Hull shot a three-under 70 in the windier afternoon conditions to lurk just three shots off the lead.
“I mean, that's golf, but overall, I'm happy with how I gave myself lots of chances,” Maguire said. “Hopefully I can take more advantage of the par fives tomorrow.”
On the PGA Tour, Seamus Power opened with a x-under xx to lie x shots behind early leader xxx in the John Deere Classic in Illinois.
But it was more of a battle in Munich for Conor Purcell, who had to fight back from four over after ten holes to open with a level par 72 in the BMW International Open.
The Portmarnock rookie (28) sandwiched a double-bogey seven at the sixth between bogeys at the third and 10th before rolling in birdie at the 11th, 12th, 16th and 18th.
He was five shots behind England’s Marco Penge, Malaysia’s Gavin Green, Dutchman Darius van Driel, France’s Ugo Coussaud and China’s Wenyi Ding, who shot 67s to head the field by a shot.
